These days, spending money is not something taken lightly.
Purchases are weighed and only things that deliver a true value are made.
Years ago I was looking to “treat myself” but wanted to spend almost nothing on said treat.
Believe I found out about the Walmart Beauty Box watching a video on YouTube.
I’ve been getting it literally for years now.
It has always been worth the cost, it is actually free! You pay shipping of $5.00 for the boxes which are sent seasonally (four times per year)
Thought I’d share in case you are looking for a very reasonable, splurge.
Most times I use most of if not all of what is sent.
If there is something that we won’t use there is someone who would like to use the product.
I believe this is the winter box, it may be the fall box… they seem to have a loose interpretation of the timing of the seasons. When paying just shipping and getting fun samples even full size products… who cares what season they send!
Yum, yum… who wouldn’t be attracted to a recipe name whose name is “Strawberry Mold”?
If you don’t know what mold is other than that yucky stuff that accumulates in your house if adverse conditions are present…. keep reading, promise you will find the opposite of what you’re expecting.
This mold is a jiggly layered delight.
It was traditionally served along with the rest of the main course.
Checked with Gary he said his recollection was this was served at cookouts (BBQ)
I would have said this was served at elegant Sunday morning brunch.
It is always in good taste when served for dessert
Today I went to prepare the jello mold with you to share the recipe with gaps filled in and nicely typed in a PDF so you could enjoy.
As with many of the recipes you will note there are so few directions that it is impossible to create even using creative licence.
I plan on trying to figure out how this is chemically possible, there is hot water but no reference to cold water (needed to make the jello congeal), pineapple also does something to the jellos ability to congeal.
Realizing how much fun this really is… I have lots of cool vintage underutilized cookbooks to try to recreate the science of this very fussy cooking medium.
No we aren’t scientifically creating mold, I promise… this is worth the wait
Wanted to post it as I had said I would on my Podcast.. so … to be continued…
As you know I have been touting the use of a Daily Planner… that’s saying a lot from a naturally scattered human, 🙂
In the past I have purchased a number of lovely planners by a number of name brands. None have been a comfortable fit with my daily planning style. Who knew? Seems we do actually have a preferred style to daily planning.
This year, I really can’t spend money on an expensive planner.
After much thought, I have found a perfect fit for my planning style. An inexpensive DIY or BUY (lol) 3 ring binder.
Included in this post are downloads for the two pages shown here.
Truth be told, it seems that I would have preferred a DIY Planner all along! (like the baby who enjoys the box more than the gift)
There are two daily planning pages I designed and enjoy using.. yup enjoy!
Below are links that will allow you to download and print the planner pages.
If you are anything like me and millions of others in the US, anxious about the outcome of our election on Tuesday.
I am certainly not participating in my first election… truth be told I remember Nixon in office and seeing him fly off in the helicopter after resigning.
That said I don’t believe I have lived in such tumultuous times.. certainly I couldn’t imagine the dystopian society fraught with the division of today.
I’ve always believed it isn’t party over country.. the middle is where we as humans should dwell.
It’s fine to align yourself with the party your beliefs are most similar to yours.
We can’t lose sight of how much is gained through mutual discussion. Likely by compromise the correct decision is reached, after truly listening to what each side of the discussion is actually saying.
What to do, dig in, stay safe, binge watch a show (this will be a first for me, other than binge watching the news), have a few decadent drinks, whether you drink Diet Coke (my choice) something with a little something something or drink something just decadent sans, the something, something. Bake, goodies, make comfort food, polish your nails, do a facial, craft… do whatever makes you happy!
My overly optimistic list of things I may do:
Bake (cake or cookies or cupcakes)… a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!
Bake a Kugel, aka noodle pudding… delicious warm, better cold
Save some cherry tomatoes and leftover onion…
Make some Pom Poms. Why? Why not? Soooo relaxing … oh maybe I can use them on my festivus tree.
Put up my pink festivus tree, a comfort tree without reference to a specific holiday. Everyday is a pink party day.. okay everyday should be a pink party day!
If you listen to my podcast… thinking few if any… my fault.., likely.. people can only listen to what people record.
I’ve been talking about accountability…
Clearly I need to and can do better….
So my plan is to actually add the recipes I actually make with a review. Post pom poms.. may share the pink tree..
Watch out for a daily planner page to use in November.
Stay safe, be happy, & maybe just maybe tackle something that requires letting go of the remote, 🙂
Green Cabbage (one) Butter (*substitute vegan butter if you like) Garlic Powder Salt Pepper
Lets Get Ready Preheat Oven to 350 (F) Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage Cut 4 slices these will be your “steaks” Butter the steaks on both sides. (I softened the butter, you can use melted butter) Season to taste (I was heavy handed when seasoning mine)
Cooking
Bake for 20 minutes Flip and season the other side Bake for an additional 20 minutes
Serving Suggestion Serve with wide egg noodles for a deliciously filling dinner I used a bowl that was close in size to the cabbage steak, like the way it made a flower like presentation.
2 oz rye whiskey .25 oz pure maple syrup (grade A Amber is recommended. For a richer version try grade B) 3 dashes chocolate bitters Orange twist with scorched orange oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to an old fashioned glass with a large piece of ice. Stir thoroughly. Release the oils from the orange zest through a flaming wood pick over the surface of the drink and serve.
Talking to myself 